Bobby Ryan (hurler)

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Bobby Ryan
irish = Roibeard Ó Riain
fullname = Robert Ryan
placeofbirth = Borrisoleigh
countryofbirth = County Tipperary
bday=23
bmonth=10
byear= 1961
height =
nickname =
county = Tipperary
province = Munster
club = Borrisoleigh
clposition = Wing-back
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Tipperary
icposition = Full-forward
icyears = 1981-1993
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 5
icallireland = 2
allstars =
clupdate =
icupdate =

Bobby Ryan (born 23 October, 1961 in Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary) is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Borrisoleigh and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1981 until 1993.

Early life

Bobby Ryan was born in Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary in 1961. He was born into a family that was steeped in hurling glory. Both his father, Tim Ryan, and his uncle, Ned Ryan, won All-Ireland medals with Tipperary in 1951. Another uncle, Pat Stakelum, captained Tipp to All-Ireland victory in 1949. Bobby Ryan was educated locally and later attended Templemore CBS. It was here that he first tasted hurling success when he won a Harty Cup medal with the school in 1978.

Playing career

Club

Ryan played his club hurling with Borrisoleigh in Tipperary. He had much success with the club, beginning in 1981 when he won his first senior county title. Ryan increased his medal tally to three when he captured further county titles in 1983 and 1986. This latter victory was subsequently converted into a Munster club title. On St. Patrick’s Day, 1987 Ryan completed his club medal collection when he won an All-Ireland club title following a victory over Wexford’s Rathnure club.

Inter-county

Ryan’s talent as a hurler was quickly spotted by the Tipperary inter-county selectors and he joined the minor panel in the late 1970s. He had little success in this grade; however, he won a Munster title at under-21 level in 1980. This was later converted into an All-Ireland medal following a victory over Kilkenny. In 1981 Ryan added a second Munster under-21 title to his colelction before winning a second All-Ireland medal following another win over Kilkenny.

By this stage Ryan had made his debut on the Tipperary’s senior hurling team, however, the county’s hurling fortunes were in the doldrums at this time, as arch-rivals Cork were the king-pins of Munster hurling. In 1984 Ryan was appointed captain of the senior hurling team. It was the centenary year of the Gaelic Athletic Association and every team was hoping for success. That year Tipp reached their first Munster final since 1973, with the game against Cork turned out to be a thriller. Unfortunately, Ryan had to retire from the game early when he suffered a broken leg when Cork’s Tim Crowley fell on him. With four minutes to go in the game Tipp were leading by four points and looked set for victory, however, Seánie O'Leary and Tony O'Sullivan scored two quick goals to clinch victory for Cork. These goals ended Tipp’s involvement in the centenary championship.

In 1986 Tipp were eliminated from the early stages of the provincial championship, however, in spite of this Ryan’s hurling skills were honoured when he collected his first All-Star award. His involvement in an All-Star trip to the United States in May 1987 cost Ryan his place on the Tipperary team, as new manager Babs Keating advised him not to go. Ryan quickly regained his place on the team and returned at full-forward. It proved to be a successful year for Tipp as the county won its first Munster title in sixteen years following a dramatic replay against Cork. In the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final Galway put an end to Tipp’s dream season with a 3-20 to 2-17 defeat. 1988 began well for Ryan as he added a National Hurling League medal to his collection. He later captured his second Munster medal following another victory over Cork. This victory allowed Tipp to advance to the All-Ireland final where Galway provided the opposition. With an extra year’s experience it was expected that Tipp might shade the victory. Galway, however, used this to motivate themselves and defeated Tipp by 1-15 to 0-14. In 1989 Ryan was appointed captain of his county for a second time. Tipperary were still the best team in Munster and Ryan won his third provincial title in-a-row. For the third time in as many years Tipp faced Galway in the All-Ireland series, however, on this occasion the men from the West were without their star player Tony Keady. The game turned out to be a tense and unsavoury affair as Tipp finally triumphed over Galway. Antrim, the surprise winners of the other semi-final, provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final. On that occasion Tipp preserved their record of being the only team to win an All-Ireland title in every decade in GAA history as they defeated the Glensmen by 4-24 to 3-9, giving Ryan his first All-Ireland medal. He finished off the year by winning a third All-Star award.

In 1990 Tipperary surrendered their Munster crown to Cork following Babs Keating’s infamous remark about Cork that ‘donkeys don’t win derbies.’ Tipp returned in 1991 and defeated Cork in a thrilling Munster final replay giving Ryan his fourth provincial medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Tipp take on Kilkenny for the first time in twenty years. A freak goal in the first-half gave Tipp a lead which they never surrendered allowing Ryan to capture his second All-Ireland medal. 1992 saw Tipp exit the championship at an early stage, however, the team bounced back for one last hurrah in 1993. That year Ryan added a fifth Munster medal to his collection as Tipp trounced Clare. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final saw Tipp renew their rivalry with Galway; however, on this occasion Galway took the spoils. This defeat brought the curtain down on Ryan’s inter-county career.

Provincial

Ryan also lined out with Munster in the inter-provincial hurling competition on several occasions. He was successful in capturing Railway Cup medals in 1984, 1985 and 1992.

Teams

References

* Brendan Fullam, "Captains of the Ash", (Wolfhound Press, 2002)